snapshot of spirit photography

17
The novel is set in Whitby

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Brief details on the topic of spirit photography and the novel Ghostly Images which deals with Victorian spirit photography.

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Page 1: Snapshot of spirit photography

The novelis set inWhitby

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£9.99

From TheWhitby Bookshop

or Holmans

or Amazon

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Frederick Hudson (UK)

• Critical voices within Spiritualism thought he had prepared his plates in advance.

• Or double-printed two negative plates into one print.

• Or had accomplishes dressed up as ghosts.

• Spiritualist Magazine (1872) –Pattern of a background carpet was seen through the dress of a woman having her photograph taken.

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Dr Eric Dingwall

Researcher for the Society for Psychical Research

After studying spirit photographs for the best part of a lifetime he was dismissive and saw them as little more than fakes.

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Days of spirit photographers like Mumler, Deane and others over.

Now replaced by amateur ghost hunters and professional paranormal investigators.

Spirit photography still finds an audience

BUT now orbs/blobs/streaks

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Cheroux & Fischer

Yale University Press, 2005

“The fact that those images of ghosts, spirits, and séances continue to fascinate viewers today is a testament to human curiosity and the continuing allure of the unknown.”

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About Spirit Photography

Jolly states:

“They now speak to us more strongly of faith, desire, loss and love, thangullibility.”(The British Library, 2006.)

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Ludicrous or Miraculous?

The American Museum of Photography in their section Do You Believe? Science vs. Séance has a selection of Victorian ghost photos. It states:

“Many of the images presented here have been studied and debated for nearly a century. Whether they are ludicrous or miraculous is in the eye of the beholder.”